Recalling a visit to Firmenich, a family-owned fragrance company in Geneva, Switzerland, Bill Gates described why he was interested in learning more about applications of odor blocking technology.
First, he put his nose in a glass sniffing tube that smelled of pit latrine odor. Next, he put his nose in a tube with an added fragrance that blocks certain olfactory receptors, doing for our noses what noise cancelling headphones do for our ears. And he sniffed a floral scent.
The big question he poses in his recent blog post “A perfume that smells like poop?” is whether this technology will make a difference for the 1 in 3 people who lack access to improved sanitation. Firmenich, a partner of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is launching pilots in communities across India and Africa to understand whether the fragrances — whether in spray or powder form — will make toilets and pit latrines more inviting for users.
About the author
Catherine Cheneycatherinecheney
Catherine Cheney is the Senior Editor for Special Coverage at Devex. She leads the editorial vision of Devex’s news events and editorial coverage of key moments on the global development calendar. Catherine joined Devex as a reporter, focusing on technology and innovation in making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to joining Devex, Catherine earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, and worked as a web producer for POLITICO, a reporter for World Politics Review, and special projects editor at NationSwell. She has reported domestically and internationally for outlets including The Atlantic and the Washington Post. Catherine also works for the Solutions Journalism Network, a non profit organization that supports journalists and news organizations to report on responses to problems.
